Portable redesign fits nicely in your hands despite lacking a hinge.

Less than a week after Nintendo first unveiled the 2DS and just over a month before the new system is due to be on sale in North America, Nintendo offered up the final retail build of the system for hands-on testing to attendees at Seattle's Penny Arcade Expo this weekend. After spending a few minutes putting the system through its paces, I'd summarize my initial impressions of the new redesign as "surprisingly comfortable" especially given how unorthodox it looks in photos.

The first thing that struck me about the 2DS was how small it is. Even though the system is roughly the same size as a normal 3DS (when the hinge is opened), I'm used to the spacious screens on the excellent 3DS XL. The screens on the 2DS are perfectly usable, but it's a bit of a step backward for anyone used to doing portable gaming on the bigger XL screen (or a tablet).

Enlarge/ A closer look at how the system rests in my fingers and the crooks of my palms.

The small size makes it relatively easy to wrap adult-sized hands around the large, rounded shoulder buttons (which are even bigger than those on the XL) while still partially cradling the (somewhat pointy) bottom corners of the system with the palms. My thumbs fell onto the higher analog slide pad and face buttons naturally, though things felt a little more stretched when I tried to use the lower d-pad and the left shoulder button at the same time.

It was a bit hard to get a full feel for the weight and balance of the system, since the demo units were attached to heavy battery/security blocks on the back (which were, in turn, physically attached to a Nintendo attendant via an elaborate cable). Still, I didn't feel the need to squeeze the system in from the sides to support it as I worried I would when I first saw pictures. When playing standing up, I mainly looked down and supported the system with my fingers on the back. This might be more of an issue when sitting down, but the system seems to have a natural top-heavy tilt that will help it rest on unused fingers.

A few more incidental 2DS tidbits I didn't notice until I examined it up close:

The top screen seems a bit more sunken in than on other DS/3DS systems, and it looks like it's protected by a thicker layer of plastic. I asked if this had anything to do with the reported single-screen internals for the system, but the attendant didn't have any insider knowledge about the system's guts.

The start and select buttons have been moved from below the bottom screen to the right side of the system. This should avoid some confusion with the Home button, which is now a large, friendly, word-free icon on the bottom of the system.

The face buttons and d-pad on the 2DS aren't marked with colored letters or markings as they are on the 3DS and XL. Instead, each button is marked with a recessed carving of the button name, making the front face of the system an almost completely uniform black slate.

The volume slider on the left side of the system is more recessed and takes more force to move than on the other DS systems, which should lead to fewer accidental volume adjustments from sliding hands.

The AC adapter slot is at the top of the system, which is nice for players who like to rest the charging system on their chest when lying down (this is a major annoyance on the PlayStation Vita for me).

The 2DS doesn't have a switch to toggle the wireless mode like the 3DS. Instead, you have to go into settings to turn the feature off. There is a handy switch that quickly puts the system into sleep mode though.

The cartridge slot atop the system is shifted a bit left of the center line, which I'm pretty sure is a first for a Nintendo portable.

Promoted Comments

•The cartridge slot atop the system is shifted a bit left of the center line, which I'm pretty sure is a first for a Nintendo portable.

The Game Boy Advance Micro had an off-center cartridge slot to make room for the battery.

5271 posts | registered Jan 10, 2002

Kyle Orland
Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in the Washington, DC area. Emailkyle.orland@arstechnica.com//Twitter@KyleOrl

Good news then. However, something similar happened with the WiiU GamePad: the first impression from photos isn't good at all. Yeah, people who actually used the thing says that it's actually fine, but I can't be good for marketing if your first impression isn't good

I would wait before buying it, you know that sometime within a year they will come out with a XL version ... and if that XL version doesn't come with two circle pads on it then there will be another version after that.

I do kinda find it funny that few to none have commented on how this redesign is probably due to Nintendo losing it's patent lawsuit on the 3DS screen, first thing that popped into my mind when I saw this thing was "well that is one way to dodge paying out."

I would wait before buying it, you know that sometime within a year they will come out with a XL version ... and if that XL version doesn't come with two circle pads on it then there will be another version after that.

I do kinda find it funny that few to none have commented on how this redesign is probably due to Nintendo losing it's patent lawsuit on the 3DS screen, first thing that popped into my mind when I saw this thing was "well that is one way to dodge paying out."

I would bet money that we are not going to see a Dual Analog built in a nintendo Handheld until Next Gen. I say that because everyone that has been complaining about this seems to forget that the circle pad pro is not just a second analog, it also adds two extra triggers, which makes the unit really fat, like an actual controller.

I think Nintendo does not want to add the second analog until next gen just because at best it would mean supporting Three control types instead of Two, and at worst would fragment the support of many games. I just don't see a way of nintendo making a slim enough handheld with those extra two triggers, nor I see them just adding the analog and complicating matters.

In short I do expect more redesigns as the time goes by, but I do not expect actual core functionality changes until next gen.

I would wait before buying it, you know that sometime within a year they will come out with a XL version ... and if that XL version doesn't come with two circle pads on it then there will be another version after that.

I do kinda find it funny that few to none have commented on how this redesign is probably due to Nintendo losing it's patent lawsuit on the 3DS screen, first thing that popped into my mind when I saw this thing was "well that is one way to dodge paying out."

This is the cheap kiddo version. Unlikely we'll see a XL version IMO. Do they really need like 4 price points? And they are still going to be making 3DSs and XLs(Japan doesn't even seem to be getting the 2DS) so they obviously resolved whatever patent issues they had. The lack of 3D is for parents piece of mind as it's not recommended for children under 7.

And just like the PSP never got a second analog stick in it's lifetime throughout all its redesigns neither will the 3DS. Would fracture user base too much. Circle pad pro is very much a niche device and Nintendo is trying to keep it that way based on the fact it's only sold on their website and at Gamestop. It also adds extra triggers which would be tricky to add to a handheld without being too thick.

I recently bought a 3DS XL and I regret nothing. I use the 3D a lot less than I thought I would, but that last picture says it all...even playing Ōkamiden, a DS, non-3D title--which I seem unable to remove from my cartridge slot--the advantage of the larger screens is obvious...

I would wait before buying it, you know that sometime within a year they will come out with a XL version ... and if that XL version doesn't come with two circle pads on it then there will be another version after that.

I do kinda find it funny that few to none have commented on how this redesign is probably due to Nintendo losing it's patent lawsuit on the 3DS screen, first thing that popped into my mind when I saw this thing was "well that is one way to dodge paying out."

This is the cheap kiddo version. Unlikely we'll see a XL version IMO. Do they really need like 4 price points? And they are still going to be making 3DSs and XLs(Japan doesn't even seem to be getting the 2DS) so they obviously resolved whatever patent issues they had. The lack of 3D is for parents piece of mind as it's not recommended for children under 7.

And just like the PSP never got a second analog stick in it's lifetime throughout all its redesigns neither will the 3DS. Would fracture user base too much. Circle pad pro is very much a niche device and Nintendo is trying to keep it that way based on the fact it's only sold on their website and at Gamestop. It also adds extra triggers which would be tricky to add to a handheld without being too thick.

it was resolved with Nintendo owing royalties on every 3DS screen sold, past or future; no 3D screen, no royalty payment due.

there most likely will not be a second generation 3DS since Nintendo was already selling the units at a near loss.

I haven't used the 3DS XL too much, but I noticed the D-pad was far less clicky (as in not at all) on the 2DS compared to the original 3DS. I think I agree with Kyle on pretty much everything else with my short time with the device.

I can't wait till this hits store shelves. I had a normal 3DS and I hated the way it felt in my hands. Made them cramp up pretty bad. I'm looking forward to the large shoulder buttons and higher up analog stick. It will be a first day buy for me.

The 2DS may be nice to hold, but it's really, really ugly. It looks like a prototype before they put it in the final housing. I wonder how many people will be turned off by that (though if it's really all about the price point, it may not matter).

The 2DS may be nice to hold, but it's really, really ugly. It looks like a prototype before they put it in the final housing. I wonder how many people will be turned off by that (though if it's really all about the price point, it may not matter).

What in particular is ugly about it? It seems large, certainly. But I don't see a way to fix that without using a hinge. Other than the size, I don't see anything particularly unattractive about it.

Even if it doesn't feel too uncomfortable for an adult to hold, I don't understand how an under-7 (which is surely a very significant target market for this) is supposed to use the d-pad and the shoulder buttons at the same time.

Have they fitted some anti-ejection measure for the cartridge yet? I lost count how many hours of Dragon Quest progress I lost for reaching for my 3DS and accidentally pressing firmly on the cartridge, popping it out of the slot.

it was resolved with Nintendo owing royalties on every 3DS screen sold, past or future; no 3D screen, no royalty payment due.

there most likely will not be a second generation 3DS since Nintendo was already selling the units at a near loss.

Near as I can tell, the jury awarded an inventor a $30.2m lump sum in Nintendo's patent trial, not a per-screen royalty. And a couple weeks ago, the judge halved it to $15.1m.

But ultimately, stereoscopic 3D gaming didn't have a lot of mass-market appeal. So Nintendo's next handheld is likely to go in a different direction in the future - perhaps to a single large touchscreen instead.

I get a really strong GameBoy vibe from these shots. Nintendo really is a creature of habit when it comes to design--but this feels like going backwards.

Anyway, I hope people enjoy it.

It strikes me as bizarre that they'd spend money on R&D and part sourcing and then marketing ... instead of just lowering the price on their current offerings. How is this an improvement in their product line? I guess I just don't have a head for business.

Once the inevitable "2DSXL" is released next year with the larger screen - and yes that is SCREEN as in no plastic covering any part of the entirely touch sensitive screen- with full backwards compatibility to all 3DS due to a blanking strip and lower border provided in hardware, and a mode allowing full-touchscreen use of the web browser, drawing tool and other software that will be written in the mean time is released.....

I will buy it, as will damn near everyone who wants an honest-to-God portable gaming tablet with REAL controls, and Nintendo will be back on top of the world.

Once the inevitable "2DSXL" is released next year with the larger screen - and yes that is SCREEN as in no plastic covering any part of the entirely touch sensitive screen- with full backwards compatibility to all 3DS due to a blanking strip and lower border provided in hardware, and a mode allowing full-touchscreen use of the web browser, drawing tool and other software that will be written in the mean time is released.....

Nintendo's not going to splinter the 3DS platform mid-generation by offering software that has to account for a full vertical touchscreen.

Though it does make a lot of sense to go in that direction for a 4DS (or whatever they call it), along with a right analog pad, a faster GPU, more RAM, etc. But that won't be coming next year.

I use the 3D a lot less than I thought I would, but that last picture says it all...even playing Ōkamiden, a DS, non-3D title--which I seem unable to remove from my cartridge slot--the advantage of the larger screens is obvious...

Once the inevitable "2DSXL" is released next year with the larger screen - and yes that is SCREEN as in no plastic covering any part of the entirely touch sensitive screen- with full backwards compatibility to all 3DS due to a blanking strip and lower border provided in hardware, and a mode allowing full-touchscreen use of the web browser, drawing tool and other software that will be written in the mean time is released.....

What happened to Fitts' Law? If you make pretend borders instead of plastic borders, when you throw the stylus tip into one of the fake corners to hit a soft button without looking, you're going to miss badly.

Once the inevitable "2DSXL" is released next year with the larger screen - and yes that is SCREEN as in no plastic covering any part of the entirely touch sensitive screen- with full backwards compatibility to all 3DS due to a blanking strip and lower border provided in hardware, and a mode allowing full-touchscreen use of the web browser, drawing tool and other software that will be written in the mean time is released.....

Nintendo's not going to splinter the 3DS platform mid-generation by offering software that has to account for a full vertical touchscreen.

Though it does make a lot of sense to go in that direction for a 4DS (or whatever they call it), along with a right analog pad, a faster GPU, more RAM, etc. But that won't be coming next year.

Also, games have been designed for the DS/3DS to account for the fact that there's a gap in between the two screens. You can't just suddenly get rid of the gap and expect all the games to work/look as well as they would if the screens were split.

Take those pictures that span across the two screens for example. Sometimes as part of a movie sequence they'll have a scrolling image that moves across from one screen to another. The programmers actually account for the gap and the part of the image that lies across the gap will not be visible. If there's only one combined screen... it's gonna look real weird.

'Ugly' comments downvoted.. alright, maybe 'ugly' is a bit harsh... how about, inelegant and cheap looking? Of course, the whole purpose of the 2DS is to BE inelegant and cheap. Or to say it another way... you can argue that its NOT ugly, but you sure as heck cannot argue that its beautiful either.

This is a purpose-driven device that puts function over design. Dump trucks aren't pretty, but they have a purpose. 2DS is the dump truck of handhelds. Then there's some people who want their dump trucks to have chrome rims and trim too.

I just think.. even though the price disparity is $40 to the 3DS... it still breaks the $100 mark which changes a lot of people's perspective. Once you break that mark, I think most consumers won't see the value in it. It doesn't matter to some people if they like or use the 3D function, they are simply going to rationalize "For $40 more and still under $200, I can have the better looking model with more functions".

If Nintendo can figure out a way to cut more corners and make a $99 2DS now... they would sell by the ton. No doubt this would be $99 in the future though, but I also believe that most people are already thinking that and will wait, because $130 is just close enough to waiting for $100.